Blue Bell returns to North Texas

DALLAS - It’s been a long wait, but Blue Bell ice cream is back in North Texas.

Trucks began making deliveries to stores early Monday morning as part of Phase 2 in the creameries’ five-phase re-entry plan.

Tubs of Homemade Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, the Great Divide, Buttered Pecan and Cookies n’ Cream have been available in the Houston and Austin areas a few months ago. Now freezer shelves in DFW, Waco and much of Oklahoma are also restocked.

“I’m actually on my way to work and I was like well I need to make a pit stop so I’ll be having Blue Bell the entire day,” said one shopper at a Tom Thumb store in Dallas.

Blue Bell closed its three production plants in April following a deadly Listeria outbreak that killed three people. The plant in Brenham, Texas remains closed, but the two others have all new equipment and new sanitation procedures in place.

“All of the product that is in the store today is all safe. It is all tested and it is all safe. It’s good to eat,” said Les Clark, a Blue Bell branch manager.